Saggle makes suspension set up easy

posted by Saris Mercanti - February 24, 2014 - 2pm EDT

Setting up suspension sag properly is the first step to enjoying a mountain bike to it’s fullest, yet we often see riders on the trails riding bikes with woefully inadequate amounts of sag or air pressure. Part of the problem is a lack of education, but the other issue is getting a precise measurement. While Specialized bikes have an autosag feature, and some manufacturers put sag indicators on their frame, the majority of forks come with no indicators at all.

The UK based company Saggle has come out a with a very simple universal MTB Suspension Sag Tool, that makes the operation painless for shops and home mechanics. Each side of the Saggle has two different graphs printed on the side, which feature the sag measurements for different fork lengths. All you have to do is flip the tool to the appropriate fork length, have the rider hop on the bike, and compare the Saggle with your O-ring to dial in your sag.

The Saggle is only compatible with 100, 120, 130, 140, 150, and 160mm forks. You’ll have to resort to a measuring tape or eyeballing it on suspension forks with more than 170mm of travel. Interested? A single Saggle is £7.99, while the twin pack retails for £13.99.

Comments

hoser - 02/24/14 - 3:49pm

The barrier for those who are riding around without setting up his or her suspension is not due to a lack of tools, it is due to indifference or a lack of self-efficacy. People are intimidated by suspension and just don’t know what to do to properly dial it in. I can’t imagine anyone who is willing and able to get out a shock pump, or twist compression knobs, etc., will pay money for this fancy sag ruler then wait around for it to ship to them before setting up his or her suspension. They’ll just use a standard ruler. Or, better yet, eyeball it, go ride, and adjust from there.

patrik - 02/24/14 - 4:05pm

Specialized is going to sue, as this clearly erodes the market for their Autosag-equipped bikes.

54 - 02/24/14 - 4:13pm

How u put a o-ring around stanchion without taking the fork apart? that seem a lot of work to me.

slippyfish - 02/24/14 - 4:32pm

54 – most if not all forks come with the O-ring already installed. I think this is a good idea, an identification of an outstanding need.

Nelson Muntz - 02/24/14 - 5:04pm

My bike has 135mm travel…..this won’t work for me.
If you’re not smart enough to know how to use a ruler….

Epoch - 02/24/14 - 5:40pm

54 – you can use a skinny zip-tie instead of taking apart your fork to put a o-ring on.

Psi Squared - 02/24/14 - 5:40pm

If you’re missing an o-ring, a zip-tie works just as well.

Brad - 02/24/14 - 6:18pm

“…the majority of forks come with no indicators at all.”

Nope. I’ve got a 2009 Rockshox fork that’s got sag indicators on the stanchions and most of their moderate to high end forks have had them since then too.

…or use a paintbrush and regular paint. or better, for a consistent point of reference use a metal saw and no worries, all good Geronimo.

chasejj - 02/24/14 - 11:37pm

OK. All thenegative Nancies on here need to calm the fock down.

This for such little money it is a nice little tool. Sort of in the same vein as a Park chain checker.
I’d buy one and I know what I’m doing on suspension setup.

Slow Joe Crow - 02/25/14 - 12:40pm

It’s a clever idea and I’m sure it makes setting up sag easier, but what’s so hard about using a metric ruler and some 5th grade math? 25% sag is just travel divided by 4 and 20% is travel divided by 5.
hoser is right on target that the biggest obstacle to setting sag correctly is the knowledge and the willingness to dig out the shock pump and the ruler, and yeah, high end Rock Shox owners have even less excuse because Rock Shox prints the sag markings right on the stanchions.

Great little tool. Pleasepleasepleaseplease stop with the errant apostrophes, though. It is KILLING me. Love you guys loads, but… gah…

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